At this year's AI World Summit in Doha, 82% of attendees preferred WhatsApp over traditional event apps. Here's why this signals a major shift in how people want to experience conferences.
At this year's AI World Summit in Doha, the most meaningful discovery was not about frontier AI models or quantum breakthroughs. It was something far more human. People showed a clear preference for how they want to receive information at a conference.
The result in Doha was undeniable. Attendees overwhelmingly preferred WhatsApp instead of traditional event apps.
Qatar has invested heavily in becoming a center for AI innovation. With World Summit AI Qatar at DECC and several national AI initiatives, the region is actively shaping its role in responsible and scalable AI.
Sessions at the summit focused on real-world applications, including:
The common theme was obvious. AI only succeeds when it is human-centered and trustworthy. This aligned perfectly with the insights from our attendee survey.
We asked visitors a simple question:
"When you arrive at a conference, how would you prefer to access key event details like the agenda, speakers, and people to connect with?"
The results were striking:
This was not a close race. It revealed a major shift in attendee expectations.
A product leader from a Gulf bank said:
"The last thing I want is another app that I will delete on the flight home."
A European researcher added:
"I already live in WhatsApp. Why go somewhere else just to know what room my panel is in?"
Conference apps require downloading, creating accounts, confirming emails, and granting permissions. By the time attendees finish these steps, the keynote has often already started.
Event apps are used for only one or two days. Attendees know they will delete them immediately after.
The usual flow involves opening the event app, finding someone, switching to LinkedIn, searching again, and rewriting context. This creates unnecessary repetition.
Many apps overwhelm users with maps, banners, schedules, and sponsor ads. People simply want to know where to go next and who they should meet.
Most event apps feel generic. The design often fails to reflect the spirit of the event or the host city.
With these issues in mind, comparing a high-friction conference app to a familiar WhatsApp chat is not an equal choice. WhatsApp wins easily.
WhatsApp is already the everyday communication tool across the Gulf and many other regions. When enhanced with AI, it becomes an ideal event companion.
Attendees simply scan a QR code, and a WhatsApp chat opens. They say "Hi," and the AI concierge handles the rest.
A startup founder from Riyadh put it well:
"If I can message the event the same way I message my friends, I will use it."
AI can send beautifully designed profile cards inside WhatsApp featuring:
This design makes people feel real and recognizable while helping attendees easily remember who they met throughout the day.
AI can instantly:
This modernizes networking and removes repetitive steps.
Attendees can simply ask:
AI converts complex schedules into clear, personalized recommendations.
Room changes, speaker adjustments, and new QR codes are often missed on conference apps. On WhatsApp, attendees see updates instantly.
This strong preference reveals four truths:
Here is a simple blueprint inspired by the insights gathered in Doha.
Use QR codes on badges, stage screens, and registration desks. Promote "Message the Event" as the primary call to action.
The AI should answer questions, recommend sessions, surface people to meet, and present information in a friendly, human-centered format.
Let attendees express what kind of connections they want, and AI can introduce them directly inside WhatsApp.
After attendees share their job title and interests during registration, that information should carry through the entire system without requiring them to repeat it.
As one attendee said:
"If the theme of the talks is removing friction with AI, the event experience should reflect that."
The AI World Summit in Doha highlighted cutting-edge research and technology. Our survey revealed something equally important. Innovation also lives in the small details of how people experience an event.
Sometimes, the most meaningful progress is not another complex system. It is a WhatsApp message that naturally fits into the way people already live.
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